Stand-up men: Duo unflappable in one key aspect — life

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Jerrod Johnson and Mike Sherman both know criticism comes with their current gigs – and sometimes loads of it if things aren’t going as well as planned from those of us who predicted an 8-4 season and such.

But there’s one area where the duo is above reproach, regardless of what happens on the field: Character.

You won’t encounter two finer men at their respective positions, and when the dust settles from this season, regardless of its outcome (and right now the Aggies are 3-3 with a Saturday night game at Kansas), they’ll still be fine men.

Johnson, all of 22, already sounds like a seasoned coach when he faithfully fields questions, win or lose, after every game, and on Monday during the weekly press conference (see above video).

I’m fairly certain “stand-up guy” isn’t in the dictionary, but if it was Johnson’s picture would be next to it (in an aside, how many pictures are even in the dictionary?). When Johnson’s playing days are done, no matter the level, the coaching field will be much better for it, and young men or boys will benefit greatly, should he enter that profession.

As for Sherman, you’re not going to find any shady secret newsletters or such with the man. To use a well-worn phrase from both he and Johnson: He is what he is. Straightforward, no-nonsense, incredible family man, excellent role model for his players, helpful with us (knowing that, no matter a game’s outcome, we have a job to do), and a constant champion of Texas A&M and its traditions and values system.

Oh, and he keeps his training-camp practices open to fans – a huge endorsement that the program really does belong to Aggies, and not any one person.

In the end, both know it all comes down to two things: wins and losses, and the latter are cause for an irate fan base and hard questions about what exactly is going on. We can say it’s not personal, but of course it’s personal to them, considering what they do is what they both live for – it defines them.

Their overall definition, however, is one A&M fans will remember as well – and one above question.